1, 2. Yini elethe umphostoli uPawulu eJerusalema, futhi yibuphi ubunzima azobhekana nabo?

UPAWULU useJerusalema! Uphinde uhamba emigwaqweni yakhona emincane, ephithizelayo. Alikho idolobha emhlabeni elinomlando obaluleke kangaka wendlela uJehova asebenzelana ngayo nabantu bakhe. Iningi lezakhamuzi zalo liyaziqhenya ngalo mlando omuhle. UPawulu uyazi ukuthi amaKristu amaningi lapha asanamathele ezintweni ezadlula, awaqhubekeli phambili nezinjongo zikaJehova. Ngaphandle kokuntula kwazo izinto ezingokwenyama okwakumshukumise ukuba anqume ukuza kuleli dolobha elimkhulu ngesikhathi esese-Efesu, uPawulu uyaqaphela ukuthi ziyantula ngokomoya. (IzE. 19:21) Naphezu kwengozi alengela kuyo, uye waqhubeka nalokho ayekuhlosile.

² Yini manje uPawulu azobhekana nayo lapha eJerusalema? Obunye ubunzima buzovela kubalandeli bakaKristu, abanye babo abakhathazwa amahemuhemu abawezwe eshiwo ngoPawulu. Ubunzima obukhulu buzovela ezitheni zikaKristu. Zizommangalela ngamanga, zimshaye futhi zimsongele ngokumbulala. Lezi zigameko zizonikeza uPawulu ithuba lokuziphendulela. Izimfanelo azibonisayo ezinjengokuthobeka, isibindi nokholo lapho esingatha lezi zinkinga ziyisibonelo esihle kakhulu kumaKristu namuhla. Ake sibone ukuthi kanjani.

3-5. (a) Yimuphi umhlangano uPawulu aya kuwo eJerusalema, futhi kwaxoxwa ngani? (b) Yiziphi izifundo esingazithola emhlanganweni kaPawulu nabadala eJerusalema?

³ Ngakusasa, uPawulu nayehamba nabo bahamba bayobona abadala bebandla. Abekho abaphostoli esitshelwa ngabo kule ndaba; mhlawumbe ngaleso sikhathi base bahamba bayokhonza kwezinye izindawo. Nokho, uJakobe umfowabo kaJesu wayesekhona. (Gal. 2:9) Kungenzeka ukuthi nguJakobe owayengamele umhlangano futhi “wonke amadoda amadala ayekhona” kuhlanganise noPawulu.—IzE. 21:18.

⁴ UPawulu wabingelela abadala “wayeselandisa ngokuningiliziwe izinto uNkulunkulu ayezenze kwabezizwe ngenkonzo yakhe.” (IzE. 21:19) Kumelwe ukuba kwawakhuthaza kakhulu lokho. Nathi namuhla sijabula kakhulu lapho sizwa ngentuthuko yomsebenzi kwamanye amazwe.—IzAga 25:25.

⁵ Kungenzeka ukuthi phakathi nenkulumo yakhe, uPawulu wakhuluma ngeminikelo ayeze nayo esuka eYurophu. Kumelwe ukuba izilaleli zikaPawulu zathinteka lapho zizwa ngokukhathalela kwabafowabo bakude. Ngemva kokuzwa lo mbiko kaPawulu, ukulandisa kuthi: “[Amadoda amadala] akhazimulisa uNkulunkulu”! (IzE. 21:20a) Nanamuhla, abantu abaningi abehlelwa izinhlekelele noma abahlaselwa izifo ezimbi bathinteka ngokujulile lapho amaKristu abakanye nawo ebanikeza usizo ngesikhathi abasuke beludinga ngaso futhi ebakhuthaza ngamazwi.

 6. Iyiphi inkinga uPawulu atshelwa ngayo?

⁶ Abadala babe sebetshela uPawulu ukuthi kwakunenkinga ehilela yena eJudiya. Bathi: “Mfowethu, uyabona ukuthi ziningi kangakanani izinkulungwane zamakholwa akhona kumaJuda, wonke ashisekela uMthetho. Kodwa ezwe amahemuhemu ngawe okuthi ubufundisa wonke amaJuda phakathi kwezizwe ukuhlubuka kuMose, uwatshela ukuthi angabasoki abantwana bawo futhi angawalandeli amasiko.”a—IzE. 21:20b, 21.

7, 8. (a) Yimuphi umbono oyiphutha amaKristu amaningi aseJudiya ayenawo? (b) Kungani ukucabanga okuyiphutha kwamanye amaKristu angamaJuda kwakungasho neze ukuthi ayeyizihlubuki?

⁷ Kungani kwakunamaKristu amaningi kangako ayesashisekela uMthetho KaMose nakuba kwase kuphele iminyaka engu-20 waqedwa? (Kol. 2:14) Ngo-49 C.E. abaphostoli nabadala ababehlangene eJerusalema, babethumele incwadi emabandleni echaza ukuthi kwakungadingeki ukuba amakholwa ezinye izizwe asoke futhi agcine uMthetho KaMose. (IzE. 15:23-29) Kodwa leyo ncwadi yayingakhulumanga ngamakholwa angamaJuda, amaningi awo ayengaqondi ukuthi uMthetho KaMose wawungasasebenzi.

⁸ Ingabe lowo mbono oyiphutha wawusho ukuthi lawo makholwa angamaJuda ayengakufanelekeli ukuba amaKristu? Cha. Akukhona ukuthi ngaphambili ayengabakhulekeli bonkulunkulu bamaqaba futhi esaqhubeka naleyo mikhuba yenkolo yawo. Lo Mthetho ayesawukhonze kangaka amakholwa angamaJuda ayewunikwe nguJehova ekuqaleni. Wawungenabudemoni futhi wawungemubi wona ngokwawo. Kodwa lowo Mthetho wawusebenza ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esidala, kuyilapho amaKristu ayesengaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha. Ngokuqondene nokukhulekela okumsulwa, leso sivumelwano soMthetho sasingasasebenzi. AmaKristu angamaHebheru ayesashisekela uMthetho ayentula ukuqonda futhi engalethembi ibandla lobuKristu. Kwakudingeka avumelanise ukucabanga kwawo nokwambulwa kweqiniso okuqhubekayo.b—Jer. 31:31-34; Luka 22:20.

 9. Yini uPawulu ayifundisa ngokuphathelene noMthetho KaMose?

⁹ Kuthiwani ngamahemuhemu ayethi uPawulu wayefundisa amaJuda phakathi kwezizwe “ukuthi angabasoki abantwana bawo futhi angawalandeli amasiko”? UPawulu wayengumphostoli kwabeZizwe, futhi wasisekela isinqumo sokuthi sasingekho isidingo sokuba abeZizwe bagcine uMthetho. Waveza nephutha elalenziwa yinoma ubani ophoqa amakholwa abeZizwe ukuba asoke njengophawu lokuzithoba eMthethweni KaMose. (Gal. 5:1-7) UPawulu washumayela nezindaba ezinhle kumaJuda ayehlala emadolobheni ayewahambela. Ngokuqinisekile, kumelwe ukuba wayebachazela abalalelayo ukuthi ukufa kukaJesu kwawuqeda uMthetho nokuthi umuntu kwakuthiwa ulungile ngokholo, hhayi ngemisebenzi yoMthetho.—Roma 2:28, 29; 3:21-26.

10. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo esibonisa ukulinganisela uPawulu ayenaso ezindabeni eziphathelene noMthetho nokusoka?

¹⁰ Nokho, uPawulu wabonisa ukubaqonda labo ababengenankinga yokugcina amasiko athile obuJuda, njengokungasebenzi ngeSabatha noma ukugwema ukudla okuthile. (Roma 14:1-6) Akazange futhi abeke mithetho ngokuqondene nokusoka. Yiqiniso, uPawulu wamsoka uThimothewu ukuze amaJuda angakhubeki ngoba uyise wayengumGreki. (IzE. 16:3) Ukusoka kwakuyisinqumo somuntu siqu. UPawulu watshela abaseGalathiya: “Ukusoka nokungasoki akubaluleke ngalutho, kodwa ukholo olusebenza ngothando yilo olubalulekile.” (Gal. 5:6) Nokho, kwakungafanele umuntu asoke ngenjongo yokuba ngaphansi koMthetho noma athi ukusoka kuyadingeka ukuze umuntu amukelwe uJehova, ukwenza kanjalo kwakuyobe kubonisa ukuntula ukholo.

11. Yisiphi isiqondiso amadoda amadala asinikeza uPawulu, futhi kungenzeka yini eyayihilelekile ekusilandeleni? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

¹¹ Nakuba la mahemuhemu ayengamanga aluhlaza cwe, awakhuba amakholwa angamaJuda. Yingakho amadoda amadala anikeza uPawulu lesi siqondiso: “Sinamadoda amane enze isifungo. Wathathe la madoda, uzihlanze nawo ngokwesiko futhi unakekele izindleko zawo, ukuze agunde amakhanda awo. Uma wenza lokho, bonke bazokwazi ukuthi awekho la mahemuhemu abawatshelwe ngawe, kodwa uhamba ngokuhlelekile futhi uyawugcina uMthetho.”c—IzE. 21:23, 24.

12. UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayevumelana nezimo futhi enomoya wokubambisana nabanye endleleni asabela ngayo esiqondisweni sabadala baseJerusalema?

¹² UPawulu wayengase athi inkinga yangempela yayingewona amahemuhemu ngaye, kodwa kwakuwukushisekela kwamakholwa angamaJuda uMthetho KaMose. Kodwa wayezimisele ukuvumelana nezimo, inqobo nje uma ayengeke enze izinto ezingqubuzana nezimiso zikaNkulunkulu. Ngaphambidlana, nakhu ayekubhalile: “Kwabaphansi komthetho ngaba njengophansi komthetho, nakuba mina ngokwami ngingekho phansi komthetho, ukuze ngizuze labo abaphansi komthetho.” (1 Kor. 9:20) Kulokhu, uPawulu wabambisana nabadala baseJerusalema futhi waba “njengophansi komthetho.” Ukwenza kwakhe kanjalo kusibekela isibonelo esihle namuhla sokuba sibambisane nabadala futhi singaphoqi ukuba izinto zenziwe ngendlela yethu.—Heb. 13:17.

13. (a) Kungani amanye amaJuda asusa isiphithiphithi ethempelini? (b) UPawulu wasindiswa kanjani?

¹³ Izinto azihambanga kahle ethempelini. Njengoba zase ziphela izinsuku zesifungo, amaJuda avela e-Asiya abona uPawulu, amqambela amanga athi wayelethe abeZizwe ethempelini, okuyinto eyasusa isiphithiphithi. Ukube umlawuli wamabutho ongumRoma akazange angenele, ngabe uPawulu washaywa waze wafa. Noma kunjalo umlawuli wamabutho wamfaka etilongweni. Kusukela ngalolo suku, kwakusazodlula iminyaka emine ngaphambi kokuba uPawulu aphinde athole inkululeko. Nokho, uPawulu wayesalokhu ezulelwa amanqe. Lapho lo mlawuli ebuza amaJuda ukuthi kungani ayehlasela uPawulu, amemeza emsola ngezinto ezihlukahlukene. Ngenxa yokuxokozela kwawo, umlawuli akezwanga lutho. Ekugcineni, kwadingeka ukuba uPawulu athwalwe asuswe lapho. Lapho uPawulu namasosha angamaRoma sebezongena ekamu lamasosha, uPawulu wathi kumlawuli wamabutho: “Ngiyakuncenga, ngivumele ngikhulume nalaba bantu.” (IzE. 21:39) Umlawuli wamabutho wavuma futhi uPawulu wayeseluvikela ngesibindi ukholo lwakhe.

14, 15. (a) Yini uPawulu ayichazela amaJuda? (b) Umlawuli wamabutho ongumRoma wathatha ziphi izinyathelo ukuze athole isizathu sokuthukuthela kwamaJuda?

¹⁴ UPawulu wathi: “Yizwani ukuziphendulela kwami.” (IzE. 22:1) Wakhuluma nalesi sixuku ngolimi lwesiHebheru futhi lokho kwasithulisa. Wachaza ngokucacile ukuthi kungani ayesengumlandeli kaKristu. Lapho uPawulu echaza, wakhuluma ngobuciko eveza amaqiniso amaJuda ayengawafakazela uma ethanda. UPawulu wayefundiswe uthisha odumile uGamaliyeli futhi eshushise abalandeli bakaKristu, njengoba cishe abanye ababelapho babazi. Nokho, esendleleni eya eDamaseku, wabona umbono kaKristu ovusiwe owakhuluma naye. Ababehamba noPawulu babona ukukhanya okukhulu, bezwa nezwi, kodwa bangakuqonda okwakushiwo. (IzE. 9:7; 22:9) Ngemva kwalokho, ayehamba nabo kwadingeka bahole uPawulu bamyise eDamaseku ngoba ukukhanya okukhulu kwase kumenze impumputhe. U-Ananiya, indoda amaJuda alapho ayeyazi, waya kuPawulu wamvula amehlo.

¹⁵ UPawulu waqhubeka walandisa ukuthi ngemva kokubuyela eJerusalema, uJesu wabonakala kuye ethempelini. Kulokhu, amaJuda athukuthela kakhulu, amemeza athi: “Umuntu onjena makasuswe emhlabeni ngoba akufanele aphile!” (IzE. 22:22) Ukuze asindise uPawulu, umlawuli wamabutho wayala ukuba ayiswe ekamu lamasosha. Efuna ukuthola isizathu esasenza amaJuda amthukuthelele kangaka uPawulu, lo mlawuli wamabutho wayala ukuba aphenywe ngokubhaxabulwa. Nokho, uPawulu wasebenzisa ilungelo ayenalo lokuvikelwa futhi waveza ukuthi uyisakhamuzi saseRoma. Nanamuhla abakhulekeli bakaJehova baye basebenzisa izindlela ezifanayo ezingokomthetho zokuzivikela ukuze balwele ukholo. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Umthetho WaseRoma Nezakhamuzi Zakhona,” ekhasini 184, nelithi “Izimpi Ezingokomthetho Zosuku Lwanamuhla”.) Lapho umlawuli wamabutho ezwa ukuthi uPawulu wayeyisakhamuzi saseRoma, wabona ukuthi kwakudingeka athole enye indlela yokumphenya. Ngakusasa, wabizela uPawulu emhlanganweni okhethekile weSanhedrini, inkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda.

16, 17. (a) Chaza okwenzeka lapho uPawulu ekhuluma neSanhedrini. (b) UPawulu wasibeka kanjani isibonelo sokuthobeka ngesikhathi eshaywa?

¹⁶ UPawulu waqala inkulumo yakhe yokuziphendulela phambi kweSanhedrini, wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu, ngiziphathe ngonembeza omsulwa ngokuphelele phambi kukaNkulunkulu kuze kube namuhla.” (IzE. 23:1) Engakawagwinyi nakuwagwinya lawo mazwi, ukulandisa kuthi: “Umpristi ophakeme u-Ananiya wayala labo ababemi ngakuye ukuba bamshaye emlonyeni.” (IzE. 23:2) Yeka indelelo! Yeka ukungabi nabulungisa obaba sobala ngokwahlulela uPawulu njengomqambimanga bungakezwakali ubufakazi! Shono nje uPawulu athi: “UNkulunkulu uzokushaya wena mzenzisi. Ingabe uhlalele ukungahlulela ngokuvumelana noMthetho, ngesikhathi esifanayo weqe uMthetho ngokuyala ukuba ngishaywe?”—IzE. 23:3.

¹⁷ Abanye kwababemi lapho bashaqeka—bengashaqiswa yilona oshaye uPawulu, kodwa beshaqiswa yilokho uPawulu akusho! Bathi: “Uthuka umpristi ophakeme kaNkulunkulu?” Impendulo kaPawulu yabafundisa isifundo sokuthobeka nokuhlonipha uMthetho. Wathi: “Bafowethu, bengingazi ukuthi ungumpristi ophakeme. Ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi, ‘Ungakhulumi kabi ngombusi wabantu bakini.’”d (IzE. 23:4, 5; Eks. 22:28) UPawulu wabe esesiqhamukela ngenye indlela lesi simo. Ephawula ukuthi iSanhedrini yayakhiwa abaFarisi nabaSadusi, wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu, ngingumFarisi, indodana yabaFarisi. Ngahlulelwa ngenxa yethemba lovuko lwabafile.”—IzE. 23:6.

18. Kungani uPawulu azibiza ngokuthi ungumFarisi, futhi singayisebenzisa kanjani indlela yakhe yokufundisa ezimweni ezithile?

¹⁸ Kungani uPawulu azibiza ngomFarisi? Ngoba ‘wayeyindodana yabaFarisi’ futhi ephuma emndenini walelo qembu lenkolo. Ngakho, abaningi babesengambheka kanjalo.e Nokho, uPawulu wayengazihlanganisa kanjani nenkolelo yabaFarisi endabeni yovuko? Kuthiwa abaFarisi babekholelwa ukuthi lapho umuntu efa umphefumulo uyasinda, nokuthi imiphefumulo yabalungile iphinde ingene emizimbeni yabantu, iphile kubo. UPawulu wayengayikholelwa leyo mfundiso. Wayekholelwa ovukweni olwafundiswa uJesu. (Joh. 5:25-29) Noma kunjalo, wavumelana nabaFarisi ephuzwini lokuthi lalikhona ithemba lokuphila ngemva kokufa—ngokungafani nabaSadusi, ababengakholelwa ekutheni umuntu angaphinde aphile esikhathini esizayo. Singasebenzisa indlela efanayo yokufundisa lapho sixoxa namaKatolika noma amaProthestani. Singase sithi nathi siyakholelwa kuNkulunkulu njengawo. Kuyavunywa, bona kungenzeka bakholelwa kuZiqu-zintathu, kuyilapho thina sikholelwa kuNkulunkulu ofundiswa iBhayibheli. Noma kunjalo, sonke sikholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona.

19. Kungani umhlangano weSanhedrini waphela ngokuxokozela?

¹⁹ Okwashiwo uPawulu kwayihlukanisa phakathi iSanhedrini. Ukulandisa kuthi: “Kwaba nesiyaluyalu esikhulu, abanye kubabhali beqembu labaFarisi basukuma baphikisana kwashunqa uthuli, bethi: ‘Asitholi lutho olubi kulo muntu, kodwa uma umoya noma ingelosi yakhuluma naye—.’” (IzE. 23:9) Ukuphatha indaba yokuthi kunengelosi okungenzeka ukuthi yakhuluma noPawulu kwakuyichilo kubaSadusi ngoba babengakholelwa ezingelosini! (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “AbaSadusi NabaFarisi.”) Kwaba nokuxokozela okukhulu kangangokuthi umlawuli wamabutho ongumRoma waphinde wambalekisa lo mphostoli. (IzE. 23:10) Noma kunjalo, ukuphila kukaPawulu kwakusesengozini. Yini eyayizokwenzeka manje kulo mphostoli? Sizothola okwengeziwe esahlukweni esilandelayo.

1, 2. Yini elethe umphostoli uPawulu eJerusalema, futhi yibuphi ubunzima azobhekana nabo?

UPAWULU useJerusalema! Uphinde uhamba emigwaqweni yakhona emincane, ephithizelayo. Alikho idolobha emhlabeni elinomlando obaluleke kangaka wendlela uJehova asebenzelana ngayo nabantu bakhe. Iningi lezakhamuzi zalo liyaziqhenya ngalo mlando omuhle. UPawulu uyazi ukuthi amaKristu amaningi lapha asanamathele ezintweni ezadlula, awaqhubekeli phambili nezinjongo zikaJehova. Ngaphandle kokuntula kwazo izinto ezingokwenyama okwakumshukumise ukuba anqume ukuza kuleli dolobha elimkhulu ngesikhathi esese-Efesu, uPawulu uyaqaphela ukuthi ziyantula ngokomoya. (IzE. 19:21) Naphezu kwengozi alengela kuyo, uye waqhubeka nalokho ayekuhlosile.

² Yini manje uPawulu azobhekana nayo lapha eJerusalema? Obunye ubunzima buzovela kubalandeli bakaKristu, abanye babo abakhathazwa amahemuhemu abawezwe eshiwo ngoPawulu. Ubunzima obukhulu buzovela ezitheni zikaKristu. Zizommangalela ngamanga, zimshaye futhi zimsongele ngokumbulala. Lezi zigameko zizonikeza uPawulu ithuba lokuziphendulela. Izimfanelo azibonisayo ezinjengokuthobeka, isibindi nokholo lapho esingatha lezi zinkinga ziyisibonelo esihle kakhulu kumaKristu namuhla. Ake sibone ukuthi kanjani.

3-5. (a) Yimuphi umhlangano uPawulu aya kuwo eJerusalema, futhi kwaxoxwa ngani? (b) Yiziphi izifundo esingazithola emhlanganweni kaPawulu nabadala eJerusalema?

³ Ngakusasa, uPawulu nayehamba nabo bahamba bayobona abadala bebandla. Abekho abaphostoli esitshelwa ngabo kule ndaba; mhlawumbe ngaleso sikhathi base bahamba bayokhonza kwezinye izindawo. Nokho, uJakobe umfowabo kaJesu wayesekhona. (Gal. 2:9) Kungenzeka ukuthi nguJakobe owayengamele umhlangano futhi “wonke amadoda amadala ayekhona” kuhlanganise noPawulu.—IzE. 21:18.

⁴ UPawulu wabingelela abadala “wayeselandisa ngokuningiliziwe izinto uNkulunkulu ayezenze kwabezizwe ngenkonzo yakhe.” (IzE. 21:19) Kumelwe ukuba kwawakhuthaza kakhulu lokho. Nathi namuhla sijabula kakhulu lapho sizwa ngentuthuko yomsebenzi kwamanye amazwe.—IzAga 25:25.

⁵ Kungenzeka ukuthi phakathi nenkulumo yakhe, uPawulu wakhuluma ngeminikelo ayeze nayo esuka eYurophu. Kumelwe ukuba izilaleli zikaPawulu zathinteka lapho zizwa ngokukhathalela kwabafowabo bakude. Ngemva kokuzwa lo mbiko kaPawulu, ukulandisa kuthi: “[Amadoda amadala] akhazimulisa uNkulunkulu”! (IzE. 21:20a) Nanamuhla, abantu abaningi abehlelwa izinhlekelele noma abahlaselwa izifo ezimbi bathinteka ngokujulile lapho amaKristu abakanye nawo ebanikeza usizo ngesikhathi abasuke beludinga ngaso futhi ebakhuthaza ngamazwi.

 6. Iyiphi inkinga uPawulu atshelwa ngayo?

⁶ Abadala babe sebetshela uPawulu ukuthi kwakunenkinga ehilela yena eJudiya. Bathi: “Mfowethu, uyabona ukuthi ziningi kangakanani izinkulungwane zamakholwa akhona kumaJuda, wonke ashisekela uMthetho. Kodwa ezwe amahemuhemu ngawe okuthi ubufundisa wonke amaJuda phakathi kwezizwe ukuhlubuka kuMose, uwatshela ukuthi angabasoki abantwana bawo futhi angawalandeli amasiko.”a—IzE. 21:20b, 21.

7, 8. (a) Yimuphi umbono oyiphutha amaKristu amaningi aseJudiya ayenawo? (b) Kungani ukucabanga okuyiphutha kwamanye amaKristu angamaJuda kwakungasho neze ukuthi ayeyizihlubuki?

⁷ Kungani kwakunamaKristu amaningi kangako ayesashisekela uMthetho KaMose nakuba kwase kuphele iminyaka engu-20 waqedwa? (Kol. 2:14) Ngo-49 C.E. abaphostoli nabadala ababehlangene eJerusalema, babethumele incwadi emabandleni echaza ukuthi kwakungadingeki ukuba amakholwa ezinye izizwe asoke futhi agcine uMthetho KaMose. (IzE. 15:23-29) Kodwa leyo ncwadi yayingakhulumanga ngamakholwa angamaJuda, amaningi awo ayengaqondi ukuthi uMthetho KaMose wawungasasebenzi.

⁸ Ingabe lowo mbono oyiphutha wawusho ukuthi lawo makholwa angamaJuda ayengakufanelekeli ukuba amaKristu? Cha. Akukhona ukuthi ngaphambili ayengabakhulekeli bonkulunkulu bamaqaba futhi esaqhubeka naleyo mikhuba yenkolo yawo. Lo Mthetho ayesawukhonze kangaka amakholwa angamaJuda ayewunikwe nguJehova ekuqaleni. Wawungenabudemoni futhi wawungemubi wona ngokwawo. Kodwa lowo Mthetho wawusebenza ngaphansi kwesivumelwano esidala, kuyilapho amaKristu ayesengaphansi kwesivumelwano esisha. Ngokuqondene nokukhulekela okumsulwa, leso sivumelwano soMthetho sasingasasebenzi. AmaKristu angamaHebheru ayesashisekela uMthetho ayentula ukuqonda futhi engalethembi ibandla lobuKristu. Kwakudingeka avumelanise ukucabanga kwawo nokwambulwa kweqiniso okuqhubekayo.b—Jer. 31:31-34; Luka 22:20.

 9. Yini uPawulu ayifundisa ngokuphathelene noMthetho KaMose?

⁹ Kuthiwani ngamahemuhemu ayethi uPawulu wayefundisa amaJuda phakathi kwezizwe “ukuthi angabasoki abantwana bawo futhi angawalandeli amasiko”? UPawulu wayengumphostoli kwabeZizwe, futhi wasisekela isinqumo sokuthi sasingekho isidingo sokuba abeZizwe bagcine uMthetho. Waveza nephutha elalenziwa yinoma ubani ophoqa amakholwa abeZizwe ukuba asoke njengophawu lokuzithoba eMthethweni KaMose. (Gal. 5:1-7) UPawulu washumayela nezindaba ezinhle kumaJuda ayehlala emadolobheni ayewahambela. Ngokuqinisekile, kumelwe ukuba wayebachazela abalalelayo ukuthi ukufa kukaJesu kwawuqeda uMthetho nokuthi umuntu kwakuthiwa ulungile ngokholo, hhayi ngemisebenzi yoMthetho.—Roma 2:28, 29; 3:21-26.

10. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo esibonisa ukulinganisela uPawulu ayenaso ezindabeni eziphathelene noMthetho nokusoka?

¹⁰ Nokho, uPawulu wabonisa ukubaqonda labo ababengenankinga yokugcina amasiko athile obuJuda, njengokungasebenzi ngeSabatha noma ukugwema ukudla okuthile. (Roma 14:1-6) Akazange futhi abeke mithetho ngokuqondene nokusoka. Yiqiniso, uPawulu wamsoka uThimothewu ukuze amaJuda angakhubeki ngoba uyise wayengumGreki. (IzE. 16:3) Ukusoka kwakuyisinqumo somuntu siqu. UPawulu watshela abaseGalathiya: “Ukusoka nokungasoki akubaluleke ngalutho, kodwa ukholo olusebenza ngothando yilo olubalulekile.” (Gal. 5:6) Nokho, kwakungafanele umuntu asoke ngenjongo yokuba ngaphansi koMthetho noma athi ukusoka kuyadingeka ukuze umuntu amukelwe uJehova, ukwenza kanjalo kwakuyobe kubonisa ukuntula ukholo.

11. Yisiphi isiqondiso amadoda amadala asinikeza uPawulu, futhi kungenzeka yini eyayihilelekile ekusilandeleni? (Bheka nombhalo waphansi.)

¹¹ Nakuba la mahemuhemu ayengamanga aluhlaza cwe, awakhuba amakholwa angamaJuda. Yingakho amadoda amadala anikeza uPawulu lesi siqondiso: “Sinamadoda amane enze isifungo. Wathathe la madoda, uzihlanze nawo ngokwesiko futhi unakekele izindleko zawo, ukuze agunde amakhanda awo. Uma wenza lokho, bonke bazokwazi ukuthi awekho la mahemuhemu abawatshelwe ngawe, kodwa uhamba ngokuhlelekile futhi uyawugcina uMthetho.”c—IzE. 21:23, 24.

12. UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayevumelana nezimo futhi enomoya wokubambisana nabanye endleleni asabela ngayo esiqondisweni sabadala baseJerusalema?

¹² UPawulu wayengase athi inkinga yangempela yayingewona amahemuhemu ngaye, kodwa kwakuwukushisekela kwamakholwa angamaJuda uMthetho KaMose. Kodwa wayezimisele ukuvumelana nezimo, inqobo nje uma ayengeke enze izinto ezingqubuzana nezimiso zikaNkulunkulu. Ngaphambidlana, nakhu ayekubhalile: “Kwabaphansi komthetho ngaba njengophansi komthetho, nakuba mina ngokwami ngingekho phansi komthetho, ukuze ngizuze labo abaphansi komthetho.” (1 Kor. 9:20) Kulokhu, uPawulu wabambisana nabadala baseJerusalema futhi waba “njengophansi komthetho.” Ukwenza kwakhe kanjalo kusibekela isibonelo esihle namuhla sokuba sibambisane nabadala futhi singaphoqi ukuba izinto zenziwe ngendlela yethu.—Heb. 13:17.

13. (a) Kungani amanye amaJuda asusa isiphithiphithi ethempelini? (b) UPawulu wasindiswa kanjani?

¹³ Izinto azihambanga kahle ethempelini. Njengoba zase ziphela izinsuku zesifungo, amaJuda avela e-Asiya abona uPawulu, amqambela amanga athi wayelethe abeZizwe ethempelini, okuyinto eyasusa isiphithiphithi. Ukube umlawuli wamabutho ongumRoma akazange angenele, ngabe uPawulu washaywa waze wafa. Noma kunjalo umlawuli wamabutho wamfaka etilongweni. Kusukela ngalolo suku, kwakusazodlula iminyaka emine ngaphambi kokuba uPawulu aphinde athole inkululeko. Nokho, uPawulu wayesalokhu ezulelwa amanqe. Lapho lo mlawuli ebuza amaJuda ukuthi kungani ayehlasela uPawulu, amemeza emsola ngezinto ezihlukahlukene. Ngenxa yokuxokozela kwawo, umlawuli akezwanga lutho. Ekugcineni, kwadingeka ukuba uPawulu athwalwe asuswe lapho. Lapho uPawulu namasosha angamaRoma sebezongena ekamu lamasosha, uPawulu wathi kumlawuli wamabutho: “Ngiyakuncenga, ngivumele ngikhulume nalaba bantu.” (IzE. 21:39) Umlawuli wamabutho wavuma futhi uPawulu wayeseluvikela ngesibindi ukholo lwakhe.

14, 15. (a) Yini uPawulu ayichazela amaJuda? (b) Umlawuli wamabutho ongumRoma wathatha ziphi izinyathelo ukuze athole isizathu sokuthukuthela kwamaJuda?

¹⁴ UPawulu wathi: “Yizwani ukuziphendulela kwami.” (IzE. 22:1) Wakhuluma nalesi sixuku ngolimi lwesiHebheru futhi lokho kwasithulisa. Wachaza ngokucacile ukuthi kungani ayesengumlandeli kaKristu. Lapho uPawulu echaza, wakhuluma ngobuciko eveza amaqiniso amaJuda ayengawafakazela uma ethanda. UPawulu wayefundiswe uthisha odumile uGamaliyeli futhi eshushise abalandeli bakaKristu, njengoba cishe abanye ababelapho babazi. Nokho, esendleleni eya eDamaseku, wabona umbono kaKristu ovusiwe owakhuluma naye. Ababehamba noPawulu babona ukukhanya okukhulu, bezwa nezwi, kodwa bangakuqonda okwakushiwo. (IzE. 9:7; 22:9) Ngemva kwalokho, ayehamba nabo kwadingeka bahole uPawulu bamyise eDamaseku ngoba ukukhanya okukhulu kwase kumenze impumputhe. U-Ananiya, indoda amaJuda alapho ayeyazi, waya kuPawulu wamvula amehlo.

¹⁵ UPawulu waqhubeka walandisa ukuthi ngemva kokubuyela eJerusalema, uJesu wabonakala kuye ethempelini. Kulokhu, amaJuda athukuthela kakhulu, amemeza athi: “Umuntu onjena makasuswe emhlabeni ngoba akufanele aphile!” (IzE. 22:22) Ukuze asindise uPawulu, umlawuli wamabutho wayala ukuba ayiswe ekamu lamasosha. Efuna ukuthola isizathu esasenza amaJuda amthukuthelele kangaka uPawulu, lo mlawuli wamabutho wayala ukuba aphenywe ngokubhaxabulwa. Nokho, uPawulu wasebenzisa ilungelo ayenalo lokuvikelwa futhi waveza ukuthi uyisakhamuzi saseRoma. Nanamuhla abakhulekeli bakaJehova baye basebenzisa izindlela ezifanayo ezingokomthetho zokuzivikela ukuze balwele ukholo. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “Umthetho WaseRoma Nezakhamuzi Zakhona,” ekhasini 184, nelithi “Izimpi Ezingokomthetho Zosuku Lwanamuhla”.) Lapho umlawuli wamabutho ezwa ukuthi uPawulu wayeyisakhamuzi saseRoma, wabona ukuthi kwakudingeka athole enye indlela yokumphenya. Ngakusasa, wabizela uPawulu emhlanganweni okhethekile weSanhedrini, inkantolo ephakeme yamaJuda.

16, 17. (a) Chaza okwenzeka lapho uPawulu ekhuluma neSanhedrini. (b) UPawulu wasibeka kanjani isibonelo sokuthobeka ngesikhathi eshaywa?

¹⁶ UPawulu waqala inkulumo yakhe yokuziphendulela phambi kweSanhedrini, wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu, ngiziphathe ngonembeza omsulwa ngokuphelele phambi kukaNkulunkulu kuze kube namuhla.” (IzE. 23:1) Engakawagwinyi nakuwagwinya lawo mazwi, ukulandisa kuthi: “Umpristi ophakeme u-Ananiya wayala labo ababemi ngakuye ukuba bamshaye emlonyeni.” (IzE. 23:2) Yeka indelelo! Yeka ukungabi nabulungisa obaba sobala ngokwahlulela uPawulu njengomqambimanga bungakezwakali ubufakazi! Shono nje uPawulu athi: “UNkulunkulu uzokushaya wena mzenzisi. Ingabe uhlalele ukungahlulela ngokuvumelana noMthetho, ngesikhathi esifanayo weqe uMthetho ngokuyala ukuba ngishaywe?”—IzE. 23:3.

¹⁷ Abanye kwababemi lapho bashaqeka—bengashaqiswa yilona oshaye uPawulu, kodwa beshaqiswa yilokho uPawulu akusho! Bathi: “Uthuka umpristi ophakeme kaNkulunkulu?” Impendulo kaPawulu yabafundisa isifundo sokuthobeka nokuhlonipha uMthetho. Wathi: “Bafowethu, bengingazi ukuthi ungumpristi ophakeme. Ngoba kulotshiwe ukuthi, ‘Ungakhulumi kabi ngombusi wabantu bakini.’”d (IzE. 23:4, 5; Eks. 22:28) UPawulu wabe esesiqhamukela ngenye indlela lesi simo. Ephawula ukuthi iSanhedrini yayakhiwa abaFarisi nabaSadusi, wathi: “Madoda, bafowethu, ngingumFarisi, indodana yabaFarisi. Ngahlulelwa ngenxa yethemba lovuko lwabafile.”—IzE. 23:6.

18. Kungani uPawulu azibiza ngokuthi ungumFarisi, futhi singayisebenzisa kanjani indlela yakhe yokufundisa ezimweni ezithile?

¹⁸ Kungani uPawulu azibiza ngomFarisi? Ngoba ‘wayeyindodana yabaFarisi’ futhi ephuma emndenini walelo qembu lenkolo. Ngakho, abaningi babesengambheka kanjalo.e Nokho, uPawulu wayengazihlanganisa kanjani nenkolelo yabaFarisi endabeni yovuko? Kuthiwa abaFarisi babekholelwa ukuthi lapho umuntu efa umphefumulo uyasinda, nokuthi imiphefumulo yabalungile iphinde ingene emizimbeni yabantu, iphile kubo. UPawulu wayengayikholelwa leyo mfundiso. Wayekholelwa ovukweni olwafundiswa uJesu. (Joh. 5:25-29) Noma kunjalo, wavumelana nabaFarisi ephuzwini lokuthi lalikhona ithemba lokuphila ngemva kokufa—ngokungafani nabaSadusi, ababengakholelwa ekutheni umuntu angaphinde aphile esikhathini esizayo. Singasebenzisa indlela efanayo yokufundisa lapho sixoxa namaKatolika noma amaProthestani. Singase sithi nathi siyakholelwa kuNkulunkulu njengawo. Kuyavunywa, bona kungenzeka bakholelwa kuZiqu-zintathu, kuyilapho thina sikholelwa kuNkulunkulu ofundiswa iBhayibheli. Noma kunjalo, sonke sikholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona.

19. Kungani umhlangano weSanhedrini waphela ngokuxokozela?

¹⁹ Okwashiwo uPawulu kwayihlukanisa phakathi iSanhedrini. Ukulandisa kuthi: “Kwaba nesiyaluyalu esikhulu, abanye kubabhali beqembu labaFarisi basukuma baphikisana kwashunqa uthuli, bethi: ‘Asitholi lutho olubi kulo muntu, kodwa uma umoya noma ingelosi yakhuluma naye—.’” (IzE. 23:9) Ukuphatha indaba yokuthi kunengelosi okungenzeka ukuthi yakhuluma noPawulu kwakuyichilo kubaSadusi ngoba babengakholelwa ezingelosini! (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “AbaSadusi NabaFarisi.”) Kwaba nokuxokozela okukhulu kangangokuthi umlawuli wamabutho ongumRoma waphinde wambalekisa lo mphostoli. (IzE. 23:10) Noma kunjalo, ukuphila kukaPawulu kwakusesengozini. Yini eyayizokwenzeka manje kulo mphostoli? Sizothola okwengeziwe esahlukweni esilandelayo.